Stephen Roy Standage was convicted of two cold case murders and sentenced to 48 years in jail.Source: News Limited

THE conviction of double murderer Stephen Roy Standage proved the importance of a dedicated cold case unit, the Police Association said yesterday, with president Pat Allen calling on the State Government to accelerate funding to the serious and organised crime squad.

In praising former cold case boss Glenn Lathey and his team for helping secure the conviction, Mr Allen said there were other long-term unsolved crimes that required the same forensic examination.

“When you can dedicate the resources and you’ve got the time to look at things, then this can be the result,” he said.

Police Association president Pat Allen says a dedicated cold case team would make a big difference.Source: News Limited

“But what I’m very aware of is that there are a lot of families out there in the same boat, and we’d love to see their matters looked at and solved as well.

“Not that Tasmania Police sit on their hands, but when you’ve got a dedicated team it can make a big difference.

“After seeing what happened in the Standage case, I’m hoping the Government will get it up and running more quickly.”

Mr Allen said all unsolved cases – including the murder of Campbell Town’s Shane Barker in 2009, the stabbing death of Italian tourist Victoria ­Cafasso at Beaumaris in 1995 and the disappearance of ­Lucille Butterworth in 1969 – ­involved families still searching for answers.

The Tasmania Police cold case unit was axed in 2011 under government budget cuts, but previously had five dedicated officers.

“There are two officers now setting up the serious and ­organised crime squad, but a total of 14 is what the Government has been talking about and we will hold them to that,” Mr Allen said.

A spokesman for Police Minister Rene Hidding said the Government was committed to restoring police numbers and re-establishing a cold case investigative capability, but did not say when it would happen.

“The graduation of recruits in February
... will help to build the serious organised crime capability to 14 police ­officers, which will include a cold case capability,” the spokesman said.

Mr Lathey expressed his satisfaction for the outcome of the five-month trial.

He described the conviction of Standage as the culmination of years of painstaking work
.